Lately, there’s been a new fad in games: ASCII-based browser games…
And this is awesome!
These are games that you play on a browser that only use text characters to express everything in them, using a clever combination of incremental design (functionality is unlocked during play), simple mechanics and some humor/nonsense!
These games take me back to simpler times, and I’ve sunk more time in them that I care to admit… 
First of all, Candy Box:
This was the first one I’ve found, and I had tons of fun playing it, although it’s quite short (it takes a lot of real-world time, but you don’t have to pay much attention to it except when you go on quests).
Quests are just linear progressions in which you can use potions, scrolls, etc, to help you… some of the levels are quite challenging, but all are possible (even if they don’t look like it at first sight: they might be a question of getting better gear in previous quests or by getting more lollipops to pay the witch for upgrades).
Then I found “A Dark Room”. This one is more complex, more “gamey” and longer, although I haven’t had so much fun with it (the building the village part of it takes some of the fun for my taste, but the adventuring part is way better than Candy Box)… Questing takes place on a map and you search for resources, accounting for provisions and such. To get provisions (and upgrades to your capabilities), you’ll have to manage a small village.
The amazing thing about both of these games is the amount of engagement they manage to pull off the player, specially considering the simplicity of the graphics… goes to show that graphics are just a small part of making a great game!
Both these games reminded me of another classic: Dwarf Fortress, in which I spent more time than I should some years ago… Give it a spin, if you don’t fear getting sucked into it!
Dwarf Fortress is randomly generated, so you can keep playing it until you’re fed up with it, which might take a long time, since it has so much stuff happening in it… This one isn’t browser-based, just a normal game… would love to see this on a tablet!
On another note, next week I’m off to Germany for work and small vacations, going to the Rockharz Festival! Woot, metal!